Diana’s Story
“I didn’t think I would be needing the very agency that I was referring mothers to, but I did.”
Cooing happily with her mom and big sister, 4-month-old Juliette is the picture of health. Yet, no one would have predicted such a healthy outcome when her mom, Diana, was pregnant. As with her first pregnancy, Diana had developed hyperemesis gravidarum – severe nausea and vomiting – and her body was preserving every ounce of nutrition for her developing baby. Diana’s weight was dropping dangerously low and a pre-existing heart condition complicated her struggle, increasing her heart rate and causing fatigue.
At 24 weeks into her pregnancy, Diana weighed a mere 85 lbs. She was immediately hospitalized, placed on IV nutrition and closely monitored for the duration of her pregnancy. “I can’t believe I was able to sustain life at this weight,” she acknowledges. Yet, she was determined to support her baby’s gestation as long as possible and, at 8 months Juliette was born “in perfect health” at 6 lbs., 9 oz.
Due to her heart condition, having a family had not been part of Diana plans. She had earned a college degree – the first one in the family to do so – and began working for a social services agency. However, in 2020 she learned she was pregnant for the first time with her daughter, Natalie. After the shock wore off, she reached out to MOMS Orange County for support. “I didn’t think I would be needing the very agency that I was referring mothers to, but I did.”
Lupe became Diana’s Maternal-Child Health Coordinator – or home visitor – and visited Diana each month with pregnancy education, risk screenings, encouragement and support. She connected Diana to a variety of resources to keep her health stable, and a MOMS’ RN closely monitored all of Diana’s test results, ke
eping in touch with Diana’s doctor. After baby Natalie arrived, Lupe continued seeing Diana and baby each month, providing infant development and self-care education and resources, especially during the first few months when Natalie had intense sleep, fussiness and colic issues. Already thin and fatigued, Diana needed more nutrition for herself and help during that first year with Natalie. Lupe was able to help Diana secure dietician therapy through her health insurance. Lupe also connected her with mental health resources to help her cope and with home nursing visits through the OC Health Care Agency.
Fast forward to last November. Still struggling with her health, Diana found out she was pregnant with her second child. She was worried, she confided, recalling the toll on her health with her first pregnancy. Yet, the first thing she did was call Lupe who was there for Diana’s second pregnancy, as well.
Now that Juliette is four months old, Lupe will continue to visit Diana and her girls monthly through Juliette’s first year. Each visit will include maternal-child health education for mom and baby, connec
tions to needed resources and someone who becomes a trusted coach, a listening ear. In this case, that is Lupe.
“Mom is doing better,” says Lupe. “We are still watching
her health very closely and she is benefiting from the various resources we were able to connect her with. Here is a mom who is doing so much to improve her health and be a good mother to her children. I’m so proud of her hard work.”
(Photography donated by Luis Martinez)
Katrina’s Story
Katrina, a young mother of three, was fighting an invisible battle when she arrived at MOMS. After a recent childbirth, the joy of welcoming a new life was overshadowed by a darkness she couldn’t shake. Memories of a difficult past resurfaced, fueled by struggles in her relationship, culminating in terrifying thoughts of ending her own life. For fear of what would happen to her children if she shared these thoughts, Katrina concealed her anguish from others.
But while Katrina successfully disguised her emotions from her friends and family, her home visitor from MOMS, Maricela, possessed a level of insight honed by years of experience and training that Katrina could not evade. Noticing subtle giveaways that signaled distress, Maricela connected Katrina to Flavia Crovetto Hartley, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and maternal mental health specialist who works one-on-one with MOMS’ clients in need of support. With Flavia, Katrina was able to gradually open up and share the depth of her struggles. 
Flavia taught her strategies for coping with adverse emotions and provided her resources, including a crisis hotline number, in case her situation turned dire.
One weekend, alone with the weight of her despair, Katrina found herself at a crossroads. But something flickered within her, a spark of hope fighting for herself and her children. Remembering the crisis hotline number, she reached out, her trembling fingers dialing the digits that could save her life.
The response was swift and reassuring. A team arrived at her home, recognizing the urgency of her situation and providing her with the immediate support she needed. Transported to a nearby psychiatric unit, Katrina received intensive care, individual and group therapy sessions, and medication to help her find balance.
Throughout this ordeal, the connection with MOMS remained a lifeline. Maricela and Flavia stayed involved, ensuring a smooth transition back to life at home. The three devised a comprehensive plan for continued support to make sure Katrina would have the resources she needed for long-term wellness. The plan included specialized home visits to provide additional assistance and a referral to a local mental health center for ongoing psychiatric care. Flavia continued to support Katrina with weekly therapy, offering a safe space for her to process her emotions and build resilience.
